US Debt Clock sparks new debate

Discussions of the US national debt, as
graphically described by the US Debt clock(below), has re-emerged
as a hot issue, seemingly without regard to the stimulative effect
of defecit spending in a grave recession.

Much like the Concord Coalition of a generation ago, a number of
political forces are driving this debate, all too frequently with no
reference to entitlement reform or the Bush tax cuts earlier this
decade, which eliminated the Clinton-era budget surplus.

The head of the U.S. central banking system says the prospects are good for a return to global economic growth in the near future.

Ben Bernanke told the world's top central bankers Friday that economic activity appears to be leveling out after contracting sharply over the past year.

But the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman warned that difficult challenges remain.